South African-born England prop Matt Stevens will be out of action for four to six months after surgery to his right shoulder.

The 23-year-old will miss Bath’s European Cup semi-final against Biarritz this month and England’s two-Test tour of Australia in June.

Stevens, who won the first of his 10 caps against New Zealand in June 2004, played in England’s first two Six Nations games this season before being ruled out of the defeat by Scotland with a shoulder injury.

He returned against France and was named to play against Ireland only to suffer a breakdown in training.